Abstract
What role have trade unions and workers played in Ghana’s move toward political liberalization and democratization, in the past and in the recent1990–93 democratic transition? Have unions been important, either through their beliefs and protest behavior or as a consequence of their structural position in civil society? Were economic conditions key factors in the unions’ behavior? Since Ghana’s return to democracy, have the unions become more active on behalf of their interests in civil society and in the political system than under authoritarian rule? Have they helped to consolidate democratic processes?
We cannot be concerned about strengthening democracy inside our union without being concerned about democracy…. The people of Ghana … reserve the historical right to determine how their affairs are run and who governs them…. We must exercise our democratic right to choose our rulers.
L. G. K. Ocloo
General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union 1987
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Kraus, J. (2007). Trade Unions, Democratization, and Economic Crises in Ghana. In: Kraus, J. (eds) Trade Unions and the Coming of Democracy in Africa. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230610033_4
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